INTRODUCTION TO WORLD
RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
Concept, Elements and Characteristics of Belif Sytems,
World View, Religion, and Spiritualy
“MY HAPPY PILL”
Instructions:
Looking at the pictures below which
are related to faith, answer the
question “What are you happy
about your faith?” Write your
answer in your paper. Afterwards,
answer the processing questions
that will be given by your teacher.
Write your answer in your journal.
•What are the things
in my faith that
make me happy?
•How does this
happiness affect
my relationship
with others?
Worldview
• Worldview is a collection of beliefs about
life and the universe being held by
people. (The Free Dictionary 2014). This
is how every individual sees and
interprets the world. For a certain
individual, social environment and
upbringing are critical in the development
of a religious life.
• Belief in god or gods is found in
almost all religions.
• There could be more unknown
than known religions in the world
since recorded history covers only
several thousand years of human
existence.
KINDS OF BELIEF
SYSTEM
Monism
There is no real
distinction
between god
and the
universe.
Monotheism
The doctrine
/belief in one
supreme
god.
Polytheism
The belief
and worship
of many
gods.
Atheism
Disbelief in
or denial of
the existence
of a personal
god.
Agnosticism
God cannot
be known.
DEFINITION AND NATURE OF RELIGION
– This term may have probably been derived
from the Latin verb religare which means “to
t i e t o g e t h e r, t o b i n d f a s t .
– Latin "religare" meaning "to bind" and
"religio" or "obligation, bond, and
reverence".
– an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies,
“and rules used to worship a god or a group
of gods.
THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION
1. The Human Quest for Meaning
Understanding our World and our Experience
2. The Quest of Purpose
The motivation to live a life which promotes human
wholeness in accordance with the meaning discovered.
3. The Quest for Salvation
The search to be free from the feeling of disharmony deep
within the human person.
ARE YOU RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL?
Instructions:
After understanding the
differences between religion
and spirituality, self-assess
whether you are religious or
spiritual by situating yourself
in the meter below. Explain
your answer. Write your
answer in your journal.
THEOLOGY
Theology is the study of religious faith,
practice, and experience especially the
study of God and of God's relation to
the world.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION
1. Wisdom or Creed
a. A creed is a set of truths that must be accepted and
agreed to by those who wish to belong to the religion, those
who choose to be a follower or disciple.
e.g. The Nicene creed, Laws of Manu, Ten Commandments
b. A creed is a summary of the principle beliefs of a religion.
e.g. The Nicene creed, Laws of Manu, Ten Commandments
CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION
2. Worship or Cult
a. Refers to the way of worshipping, to the
RITUALS that are practiced by followers of the
religion.
b. This is often a difficult element to describe
because it involves so many diverse elements.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGION
3. Works or Code
a. Refers to the ethical values and the system
of moral practice directly resulting from an
adherence to the beliefs
EIGHT ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS
1. BELIEF SYSTEM or WORLDVIEW: Many beliefs that fit
together in a system to make sense of the universe and our
place in it.
2. COMMUNITY: The belief system is shared, and its ideals
are practiced by a group.
3. CENTRAL STORIES/MYTHS: Stories that help explain
the beliefs of a group; these are told over and over again
and sometimes performed by members of the group. They
may or may not be factual.
EIGHT ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS
4. RITUALS: Beliefs are explained, taught, and made real
through ceremonies.
5. ETHICS: Rules about how to behave; these rules are
often thought to have come from a deity or supernatural
place, but they might also be seen as
guidelines created by the group over time.
6. CHARACTERISTIC EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Most
religions share emotions such as awe, mystery, guilt, joy,
devotion, conversion, inner peace, etc
EIGHT ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS
4. RITUALS: Beliefs are explained, taught, and made real
through ceremonies.
5. ETHICS: Rules about how to behave; these rules are
often thought to have come from a deity or supernatural
place, but they might also be seen as
guidelines created by the group over time.
6. CHARACTERISTIC EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES: Most
religions share emotions such as awe, mystery, guilt, joy,
devotion, conversion, inner peace, etc
EIGHT ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONS
7. MATERIAL EXPRESSION: Religions use things to
perform rituals or to express or represent beliefs, such as:
statues, paintings, music, flowers, incense, clothes,
architecture, and specific sacred locations.
8. SACREDNESS: Religions see some things as sacred
and some not sacred (or profane). Some objects, actions,
people, and places may share in the sacredness or express
it.
ANTHROPOLOGICAL STRUCTURES OF
RELIGION
Western Beliefs
• MONOTHEISTIC - believe in one God.
• Share a similar view of the world and concept because they
both sprang from Judaism (Islam and Christianity).
• Humans must enter an interpersonal relationship with God.
• Morality is based on learning the will of God, understanding,
and living it out individually and as a community.
• Time is viewed as Linear, from beginning to end.
• The Bible (Christianity, Torah (Judaism), or Qur’an (Islam)
are the central books studied and lived by.
Eastern Beliefs
POLYTHEISM- belief in more than one god.
• Main concern is to live a good, happier, and have better life.
• Creation contains god within it. All elements of creation from plants
to animals have an animated spirit.
• Meditation is central to these faiths.
• Life is balanced.
• Holy books are not central to the belief and practice.
• Time is viewed in cycles.
• There is a belief in reincarnations and rebirth.
• Things can be made better or worse through karma.
